Display with color mixing prevention structures

ABSTRACT

An electronic device may have a liquid crystal display having a backlight and color mixing prevention structures. The color mixing prevention structures may, in part, be formed from one or more arrays of color filter elements. The liquid crystal display may include first and second transparent substrate layers on opposing sides of a liquid crystal layer. The display may include a first array of color filter elements on the first transparent substrate layer and a second array of color filter elements on the second transparent substrate layer. One or more of the arrays of color filter elements may include a black matrix formed over portions of the color filter elements. The color filter elements may fill or partially fill openings in the black matrix. The display may include a collimating layer on the second transparent substrate layer. The color filter elements may include cholesteric color filter elements.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/364,885, filed Feb. 2, 2012, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety. This application claims the benefit ofand claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/364,885,filed Feb. 2, 2012.

BACKGROUND

This relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, todisplays for electronic devices.

Electronic devices such as computers and cellular telephones aregenerally provided with displays. Displays such as liquid crystaldisplays contain a thin layer of liquid crystal material. Color liquidcrystal displays include color filter layers. The layer of liquidcrystal material in this type of display is interposed between the colorfilter layer and a thin-film transistor. Polarizer layers may be placedabove and below the color filter layer, liquid crystal material, andthin-film transistor layer.

When it is desired to display an image for a user, display drivercircuitry applies signals to a grid of data lines and gate lines withinthe thin-film transistor layer. These signals adjust electric fieldsassociated with an array of pixels on the thin-film transistor layer.The electric field pattern that is produced controls the liquid crystalmaterial and creates a visible image on the display.

Image quality in conventional displays can be degraded during off-axisviewing, because off-axis viewing angles can allow light from displaypixels of one color to bleed into adjacent display pixels of anothercolor. Although off-axis quality can be improved somewhat byincorporating wide black matrix structures into the display, the use ofexcessively wide black matrix masking lines can adversely affect displaybrightness and may be impractical for use in a high-resolution displayin which increasingly narrow black matrix masking lines are desired.

It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improvedelectronic device displays.

SUMMARY

Electronic devices may be provided with displays such as liquid crystaldisplays. A display may have an array of display pixels. A liquidcrystal display may be provided with backlight structures. The backlightstructures may produce backlight that passes through the array ofdisplay pixels. The display pixels may include electrode structures andthin-film transistor structures for controlling electric fields in alayer of liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal material may beformed between an outer display layer formed in part by a firsttransparent substrate and an inner display layer formed, in part, by asecond transparent substrate.

The inner display layer may be interposed between the backlightstructures and the liquid crystal material. Thin-film transistorstructures, electrodes, and conductive interconnection lines may bedeposited in a layer on the inner surface of the inner display layer. Inone suitable configuration, the first transparent substrate may form alayer of cover glass for the display.

A layer of color filter elements may be used to provide the display withcolor pixels. Color filter elements may be formed on the thin-filmtransistor layer. Color filter elements may be formed on the outerdisplay layer. In some configurations, color filter elements may beformed on both the thin-film transistor layer and the outer displaylayer.

A patterned layer of opaque masking material may be formed in aperipheral border region of the outer display layer. A portion of theopaque masking material may form black matrix mask that visuallyseparates adjacent color filter elements. A planarization layer may beused to cover some, or all, of the opaque masking layer. If desired, theplanarization layer may be interposed between the black matrix and thecolor filter elements.

A first black matrix on the outer display layer may include openings forcolor filter elements on the outer display layer and a second blackmatrix on the inner display layer may include openings for the colorfilter elements one the thin-film transistor layer. The black matrixopenings may be completely or partially filled with the color filterelements.

If desired, some or all of the interconnect lines of the thin-filmtransistor layer may be embedded within a black matrix that is formed onthe thin-film transistor layer.

If desired, some or all of the color filter elements may be formed usingcholesteric filter material such as a multilayer dielectric stack thatincludes materials with different indices of refraction configured toform an optical filter.

If desired, a light collimating layer may be provided on the secondtransparent substrate layer. The light collimating layer may be formedfrom collimating structures such as Fresnel lens structures, microlensstructures, or structures containing an array of microprisms.

If desired, a portion of the array of color filter elements may beinterposed between the black matrix and an inner surface of atransparent substrate layer. The portion of the color filter elementsmay be interposed between first regions of the black matrix and theinner surface while second regions of the black matrix are formed on theinner surface without any interposed color filter elements.

If desired, the array of color filter elements may form a contiguousarray of color filter elements of different colors having adjoiningedges. The black matrix may cover the adjoining edges without touchingthe inner surface of the transparent substrate layer.

Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantageswill be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device with a displaysuch as a portable computer in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device with a displaysuch as a cellular telephone or other handheld device in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device with a displaysuch as a tablet computer in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device with a displaysuch as a computer monitor with a built-in computer in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing circuitry that may be used inoperating an electronic device with a display in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an illustrative display pixel inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativeliquid crystal display with backlight structures in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative electronic devicehaving a display that overlaps housing sidewall structures in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative electronic devicehaving a display that overlaps housing sidewall structures and having adisplay cover layer in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative electronic devicehaving a display with edges that are mounted between opposing housingsidewalls in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative electronic devicehaving a display with edges that are mounted between opposing housingsidewalls and having a display cover layer in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of a display showing howbacklight structures may be used to provide the display with backlightin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative display having asubstrate layer on which thin-film transistor structures have beenformed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a top view of a portion of a display showing how a blackmatrix may be used to visually separate color filter elements inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view of a conventional color filterarray showing how color mixing may be present at off-axis viewingangles.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativedisplay showing how formation of a black matrix layer over an array ofcolor filter elements on an outer display layer may help improveoff-axis display performance in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a color filterarray showing how a portion of an array of color filter elements may beinterposed between a region of a black matrix and an inner surface of atransparent substrate in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a color filterarray showing how a portion of an array of color filter elements may beinterposed between substantially all of a black matrix and an innersurface of a transparent substrate in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a color filterarray showing how color filter elements may have adjoining edges and ablack matrix may cover the adjoining edges in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a color filterarray showing how a planarization layer may be interposed between aportion of an array of spatially-separated color filter elements and ablack matrix formed from a thin metal matrix in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a color filterarray showing how a planarization layer may be interposed between aportion of an array of partially overlapping color filter elements and ablack matrix formed from a thin metal matrix in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a color filterarray showing how color filter elements may have adjoining edges and ablack matrix formed from a thin metal matrix may cover the adjoiningedges in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativedisplay showing how a first color filter array and black matrix may beformed on a first transparent display substrate and a second colorfilter array and black matrix may be formed on a second transparentdisplay substrate in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativedisplay showing how color filter elements may partially fill openings ina black matrix formed on an inner display layer in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative displayshowing how color filter elements may partially fill openings in a blackmatrix formed on an outer display layer in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrativedisplay showing how a collimating layer may be provided on an innerdisplay layer that redirects light through color filter elements formedon an outer display layer in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative displayshowing how a collimating layer may be provided on an inner displaylayer that redirects light through color filter elements formed on anopposing surface of the inner display layer in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative displayshowing how some color filter elements may be configured to reflectselected colors of light in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative displayshowing how a first color filter array may be formed on a firsttransparent display substrate and a second color filter array and blackmatrix may be formed on a thin-film transistor layer having controllines that are immersed in the black matrix in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An illustrative electronic device of the type that may be provided witha display is shown in FIG. 1. Electronic device 10 may be a computersuch as a computer that is integrated into a display such as a computermonitor, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a somewhat smallerportable device such as a wrist-watch device, pendant device, or otherwearable or miniature device, a cellular telephone, a media player, atablet computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, a computermonitor, a television, or other electronic equipment.

As shown in FIG. 1, device 10 may include a display such as display 14.Display 14 may be a touch screen that incorporates capacitive touchelectrodes or other touch sensor components or may be a display that isnot touch sensitive. Display 14 may include image pixels formed fromliquid crystal display (LCD) components or other suitable display pixelstructures. Arrangements in which display 14 is formed using liquidcrystal display pixels are sometimes described herein as an example.This is, however, merely illustrative. Any suitable type of displaytechnology may be used in forming display 14 if desired.

Device 10 may have a housing such as housing 12. Housing 12, which maysometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic, glass,ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum,etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of any two or more ofthese materials.

Housing 12 may be formed using a unibody configuration in which some orall of housing 12 is machined or molded as a single structure or may beformed using multiple structures (e.g., an internal frame structure, oneor more structures that form exterior housing surfaces, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 1, housing 12 may have multiple parts. For example,housing 12 may have upper portion 12A and lower portion 12B. Upperportion 12A may be coupled to lower portion 12B using a hinge thatallows portion 12A to rotate about rotational axis 16 relative toportion 12B. A keyboard such as keyboard 18 and a touch pad such astouch pad 20 may be mounted in housing portion 12B.

In the example of FIG. 2, device 10 has been implemented using a housingthat is sufficiently small to fit within a user's hand (i.e., device 10of FIG. 2 may be a handheld electronic device such as a cellulartelephone). As show in FIG. 2, device 10 may include a display such asdisplay 14 mounted on the front of housing 12. Display 14 may besubstantially filled with active display pixels or may have an activeportion and an inactive portion. Display 14 may have openings (e.g.,openings in the inactive or active portions of display 14) such as anopening to accommodate button 22 and an opening to accommodate speakerport 24.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of electronic device 10 in a configurationin which electronic device 10 has been implemented in the form of atablet computer. As shown in FIG. 3, display 14 may be mounted on theupper (front) surface of housing 12. An opening may be formed in display14 to accommodate button 22.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of electronic device 10 in a configurationin which electronic device 10 has been implemented in the form of acomputer integrated into a computer monitor. As shown in FIG. 4, display14 may be mounted on the front surface of housing 12. Stand 26 may beused to support housing 12.

Other configurations may be used for electronic device 10 if desired.The examples of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 are merely illustrative.

A diagram showing circuitry of the type that may be used in device 10 isshown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, display 14 may be coupled to devicecomponents 28 such as input-output circuitry 30 and control circuitry32. Input-output circuitry 30 may include components for receivingdevice input. For example, input-output circuitry 30 may include amicrophone for receiving audio input, a keyboard, keypad, or otherbuttons or switches for receiving input (e.g., key press input or buttonpress input from a user), sensors for gathering input such as anaccelerometer, a compass, a light sensor, a proximity sensor, touchsensor (e.g., touch sensors associated with display 14 or separate touchsensors), or other input devices. Input-output circuitry 30 may alsoinclude components for supplying output.

Output circuitry may include components such as speakers, light-emittingdiodes or other light-emitting devices for producing light output,vibrators, and other components for supplying output. Input-output portsin circuitry 30 may be used for receiving analog and/or digital inputsignal and may be used for outputting analog and/or digital outputsignals. Examples of input-output ports that may be used in circuitry 30include audio ports, digital data ports, ports associated with 30-pinconnectors, and ports associated with Universal Serial Bus connectorsand other digital data connectors.

Control circuitry 32 may be used in controlling the operation of device10. Control circuitry 32 may include storage circuits such as volatileand non-volatile memory circuits, solid state drives, hard drives, andother memory and storage circuitry. Control circuitry 32 may alsoinclude processing circuitry such as processing circuitry in amicroprocessor or other processor. One or more integrated circuits maybe used in implementing control circuitry 32. Examples of integratedcircuits that may be included in control circuitry 32 includemicroprocessors, digital signal processors, power management units,baseband processors, microcontrollers, application-specific integratedcircuits, circuits for handling audio and/or visual information, andother control circuitry.

Control circuitry 32 may be used in running software for device 10. Forexample, control circuitry 32 may be configured to execute code inconnection with the displaying of images on display 14 (e.g., text,pictures, video, etc.).

Display 14 may include a pixel array such as pixel array 34. Pixel array34 may be controlled using control signals produced by display drivercircuitry such as display driver circuitry 36. Display driver circuitry36 may be implemented using one or more integrated circuits (ICs) andmay sometimes be referred to as a driver IC, display driver integratedcircuit, or display driver. Display driver integrated circuit 36 may bemounted on an edge of a thin-film transistor substrate layer in display14 (as an example). The thin-film transistor substrate layer maysometimes be referred to as a thin-film transistor (TFT) layer.

During operation of device 10, control circuitry 32 may provide data todisplay driver 36. For example, control circuitry 32 may use a path suchas path 38 to supply display driver 36 with digital data correspondingto text, graphics, video, or other images to be displayed on display 14.Display driver 36 may convert the data that is received on path 38 intosignals for controlling the pixels of pixel array 34.

Pixel array 34 may contain rows and columns of display pixels 40. Thecircuitry of pixel array 34 may be controlled using signals such as dataline signals on data lines 42 and gate line signals on gate lines 44.

Pixels 40 in pixel array 34 may contain thin-film transistor circuitry(e.g., polysilicon transistor circuitry or amorphous silicon transistorcircuitry) and associated structures for producing electric fieldsacross liquid crystal material in display 14. The thin-film transistorstructures that are used in forming pixels 40 may be located on asubstrate (sometimes referred to as a thin-film transistor layer orthin-film transistor substrate). The thin-film transistor (TFT) layermay be formed from a planar glass substrate, a plastic substrate, or asheet of other suitable substrate materials.

Gate driver circuitry 46 may be used to generate gate signals on gatelines 44. Circuits such as gate driver circuitry 46 may be formed fromthin-film transistors on the thin-film transistor layer. Gate drivercircuitry 46 may be located on both the left and right sides of pixelarray 34 (as shown in FIG. 5) or may be located on only one side ofpixel array 34.

The data line signals in pixel array 34 carry analog image data (e.g.,voltages with magnitudes representing pixel brightness levels). Duringthe process of displaying images on display 14, display driverintegrated circuit 36 may receive digital data from control circuitry 32via path 38 and may produce corresponding analog data on path 48. Theanalog data signals on path 48 may be demultiplexed by demultiplexercircuitry 50 in accordance with control signals provided by drivercircuitry 36. This demultiplexing process produces correspondingcolor-coded analog data line signals on data lines 42 (e.g., datasignals for a red channel, data signals for a green channel, and datasignals for a blue channel).

The data line signals on data lines 42 may be provided to the columns ofdisplay pixels 40 in pixel array 34. Gate line signals may be providedto the rows of pixels 40 in pixel array 34 by gate driver circuitry 46.

The circuitry of display 14 such as demultiplexer circuitry 50 and gatedriver circuitry 46 and the circuitry of pixels 40 may be formed fromconductive structures (e.g., metal lines and/or structures formed fromtransparent conductive materials such as indium tin oxide) and mayinclude transistors that are fabricated on the thin-film transistorsubstrate layer of display 14. The thin-film transistors may be, forexample, polysilicon thin-film transistors or amorphous silicontransistors.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an illustrative display pixel in pixelarray 34. Pixels such as pixel 40 of FIG. 6 may be located at theintersection of each gate line 44 and data line 42 in array 34.

A data signal D may be supplied to terminal 500 from one of data lines42 (FIG. 5). Thin-film transistor 52 (e.g., a thin-film polysilicontransistor or an amorphous silicon transistor) may have a gate terminalsuch as gate 54 that receives gate line signal G from gate drivercircuitry 46 (FIG. 5). When signal G is asserted, transistor 52 will beturned on and signal D will be passed to node 56 as voltage Vp. Data fordisplay 14 may be displayed in frames. Following assertion of signal Gin one frame, signal G may be deasserted. Signal G may then be assertedto turn on transistor 52 and capture a new value of Vp in a subsequentdisplay frame.

Pixel 40 may have a signal storage element such as capacitor Cst orother charge storage element. Storage capacitor Cst may be used to storesignal Vp between frames (i.e., in the period of time between theassertion of successive signals G).

Display 14 may have a common electrode coupled to node 58. The commonelectrode (which is sometimes referred to as the Vcom electrode) may beused to distribute a common electrode voltage such as common electrodevoltage Vcom to nodes such as node 58 in each pixel 40 of array 24.Capacitor Cst may be coupled between nodes 56 and 58. A parallelcapacitance Clc arises across nodes 56 and 58 due to electrodestructures in pixel 40 that are used in controlling the electric fieldthrough the liquid crystal material of the pixel (liquid crystalmaterial 60). As shown in FIG. 6, electrode structures 62 may be coupledto node 56. Capacitance Clc is associated with the capacitance betweenelectrode structures 62 and common electrode Vcom at node 58. Duringoperation, electrode structures 62 may be used to apply a controlledelectric field (i.e., a field having a magnitude proportional toVp-Vcom) across a pixel-sized portion of liquid crystal material 60 inpixel 40. Due to the presence of storage capacitor Cst, the value of Vp(and therefore the associated electric field across liquid crystalmaterial 60) may be maintained across nodes 56 and 58 for the durationof the frame.

The electric field that is produced across liquid crystal material 60causes a change in the orientations of the liquid crystals in liquidcrystal material 60. This changes the polarization of light passingthrough liquid crystal material 60. The change in polarization may beused in controlling the amount of light that is transmitted through eachpixel 40 in array 34.

A portion of display 14 illustrating how changes in the lightpolarization produced by liquid crystal material 60 can be used toaffect the amount of light that is transmitted through display 14 isshown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, backlight structures 64 may be usedto produce backlight 66 that travels upwards (outwards) in dimension Zthrough display layers 81 of display 14. Display layers 81 may includean upper polarizer layer such as layer 68 and a lower polarizer layer74. Upper polarizer layer 68 may be attached to one or more substratelayers such as layer 70. Lower polarizer layer 74 may be attached to oneor more substrate layers such as layer 72. Layers 70 and/or 72 may beformed from transparent layers such as layers of glass, plastic, orother sheets of material. Layers 70 and/or 72 and other layers ofdisplay 81 may include thin-film transistor layers, color filter layers,layers that include thin-film transistor structures and color filterelements, planarization layers, opaque masking patterns, clear layers,or other suitable display layers.

As light 66 passes through lower polarizer 74, lower polarizer 74polarizes light 66. As polarized light 66 passes through liquid crystalmaterial 60, liquid crystal material 60 may rotate the polarization oflight 66 by an amount that is proportional to the electric field throughliquid crystal material 60. If the polarization of light 66 is alignedin parallel with the polarization of polarizer 68, the transmission oflight 66 through layer 68 will be maximized. If the polarization oflight 66 is aligned so as to run perpendicular to the polarization ofpolarizer 68, the transmission of light 66 through layer 68 will beminimized (i.e., light 66 will be blocked). The display circuitry ofFIG. 5 may be used in adjusting the voltages Vp across the electrodes 62of display pixels 40 in display pixel array 34, thereby selectivelylightening and darkening pixels 40 in pixel array 34 and presenting animage to a user of device 10 such as viewer 76, viewing display 14 indirection 78.

Displays such as display 14 may be mounted on one or more surfaces ofdevice 10. For example, displays such as display 14 may be mounted on afront face of housing 12, on a rear face of housing 12, or on otherportions of device 10.

As shown in FIG. 8, display 14 may be mounted in housing 12 so that someor all of the edges of display 14 overlap housing sidewalls 12′.Internal electrical components 82 (e.g., input-output components 30,control circuitry 32, etc.) may be mounted on one or more substratessuch as substrate 80 within housing 12. Substrate 80 may be formed fromone or more printed circuits. For example, substrate 80 may include arigid printed circuit board (e.g., a printed circuit board formed from amaterial such as fiberglass-filled epoxy) and/or a flexible printedcircuit (“flex circuit”) such as a printed circuit formed from patternedconductive traces on a sheet of polyimide or other flexible polymer.

If desired, some or all of the outermost surface of display 14 may becovered with a display cover layer such as display cover layer 84 ofFIG. 9. Display cover layer 84 may be formed from a layer of glass, alayer of plastic, a layer of ceramic, or other suitable transparentmaterials. One or more additional display layers may also be included indisplay 14 if desired (e.g., antireflection films, scratch-resistancecoating layers, fingerprint-reducing layers, layers that performmultiple functions such as reducing reflection, reducing scratches, andreducing fingerprints, etc.).

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of device 10 in a configuration inwhich display 14 has been mounted between respective housing sidewalls12′ (i.e., without overlapping upper edges 12″ of sidewalls 12′). FIG.11 shows how display cover layer 84 may be used to cover display 14 in aconfiguration in which display 14 is mounted between housing sidewalls12′.

The illustrative mounting arrangements of FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11 aremerely illustrative examples of ways in which display 14 may be mountedin housing 12 of device 10. Other mounting configurations may be used ifdesired.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of display 14 showing how backlightstructures 86 may be used in producing backlight 66 for display 14. Asshown in FIG. 12, a light source such as light source 92 may producelight 94. Light source 92 may include, for example, one or morelight-emitting diodes. Backlight structures 86 may include a light guideplate and other layers 88 (e.g., a diffuser and other optical films). Areflective layer such as reflector 90 may be placed on the rear surfaceof the light guide plate. As light 94 travels through the light guideplate, some of light 94 scatters upwards in direction Z towards viewer76 and serves as backlight 66 for display 14. Light that scattersdownwards may be reflected upwards by reflector 90 to serve asadditional backlight 66.

Display layers 81 may include thin-film transistors such as transistor52 of FIG. 6 and conductive structures (e.g., electrodes such aselectrode 62, gate lines, data lines, and other lines and conductivestructures formed from metal and/or indium tin oxide or othertransparent conductive materials). Display layers 81 may also includecolor filter structures for imparting colors such as red, blue, andgreen colors to pixels 40 in pixel array 34. The color filter structuresmay be formed in an array (e.g., an array of alternating red, green, andblue color filter elements) and are therefore sometimes referred to as acolor filter array or color filter array structures.

Color filter array structures may be formed using colored substancessuch as dye or pigment (e.g., colored red, blue, and green ink ormaterials of other suitable colors). Color filter structures may beformed by ink-jet printing, screen printing, pad printing,photolithographic patterning, or other suitable deposition andpatterning techniques. Color filter structures may be formed on the samesubstrate as the thin-film transistors and conductive structures ofdisplay pixels 40 or may be formed separately (e.g., on a transparentsubstrate that is separated from a thin-film transistor substratelayer).

As shown in FIG. 13, thin-film transistor layer 108 may be formed onsubstrate 96. Each electrode 62 (i.e., each set of three commonelectrode finger structures in the example of FIG. 13) may be configuredgenerate electric fields in liquid crystal material associated with agiven pixel 40. If desired, color filter elements 116′ of color filterlayer 116 may be used to impart colors to backlight 66 generated bybacklight structures 86 (FIG. 12). Color filter layer 116 may includelines of black matrix material 124.

Black matrix material 124 may be formed on one or more surfaces of colorfilter array 116 and may be configured to overlap structures inthin-film transistor layer 108 such as structures 126 (e.g., gate lines44, data lines 42, etc.) and thereby block structures 126 from view. Thethickness T of thin-film transistor layer 108 may be relatively small(e.g., less than 25 microns, less than 5 microns, less than 2 microns,etc.). One or more color filter layers 116 may be provided. If desired,a color filter array such as color filter array 116 may be formed onthin-film transistor layer 108. If desired, a layer of liquid crystalmaterial such as liquid crystal layer 60 may be formed between colorfilter array 116 and thin-film transistor layer 108.

As shown in FIG. 14, color filter elements 116′ in color filter array116 may be separated by lines of opaque material (sometimes referred toas black matrix material or opaque masking material). The black matrixmay be used to block metal lines and other structures from view by theuser of device 10 and may help reduce light leakage between adjacentpixels. The black matrix may be formed from opaque organic or inorganicmaterials such as chrome and black ink (as examples).

The top view of color filter array 116 in FIG. 14 shows how black matrix124 may form a grid of opaque masking lines on color filter layer 116that visually separate respective color filter elements 116′. The widthof the masking lines (shown as width W in FIG. 15) may be less than 50microns, less than 30 microns, less than 20 microns, less than 15microns, less than 10 microns, less than 7 microns, less than 3 microns,or any other suitable width. The lateral dimensions of color filterelements 116′ may be 500 microns or less, 100 microns or less, 50microns or less, or 25 microns or less (as examples). For example,rectangular color filter elements 116′ in array 116 may be provided withpixel dimensions of 25 microns by 75 microns (as an example).

It may be desirable to reduce the magnitude of black matrix line width Wrelative to the lateral dimensions D of color filter elements 116′ toimprove display brightness (i.e., brightness efficiency). However, asshown in FIG. 15, a conventional display 100 having separators 101between color filters 115 may provide a line of sight to an operatinglight source through a color filter associated with a non-operatinglight source. Conventional display 100 includes an array 103 of lightsources associated with pixels 41 that are aligned with color filters115.

While the light source associated with the green filter (g) is operating(ON), the light sources associated with the red filter (r) and the bluefilter (b) are not operating (OFF). A viewer 113 viewing conventionaldisplay 100 along on-axis viewing angle 117 views the operating lightsource through the desired filter g. However, a viewer 111 viewingconventional display 100 along an off-axis viewing angle 121 will seethe operating light source through the incorrect (r) filter, therebyreducing the quality of the content displayed using conventional display100.

In order to prevent this type of color mixing display contentdegradation, device 10 may be provided with color mixing preventionstructures. Consider, as an example, display 14 of FIG. 16. As shown inFIG. 16, color filter layer 116 may be provided color mixing preventionstructures such as black matrix material 124 that is formed at leastpartially on an interior surface of color filter elements 116′ of colorfilter array 116 on outer display layer 118.

Color filter array (color filter layer) 116 may be formed on an innersurface (e.g., a surface that faces liquid crystal layer 60) oftransparent substrate layer 118. Color filter layer 116 may include anarray of color filter elements 116′ and a black matrix 124 havingopenings 142 for color filter elements 116′. As shown in FIG. 16, aportion of array 116 of color filter elements 116′ may be interposedbetween black matrix 124 and the inner surface of layer 118. If desired,a transparent planarization layer such as planarization layer 130 may beinterposed between black matrix material 124 and color filter elements116′.

Viewer 76 may view display 14 through substrate 118 and color filterlayer 116 by viewing in a direction such as direction 78. (Polarizerlayers, cover glass, backlight structures and other layers have beenomitted from FIG. 16 for clarity). Backlight 66 passes through liquidcrystal material 60. Electrodes 62 are located in thin-film transistorlayer 108 on substrate 96, so the electric field that is produced inliquid crystal material 60 is strongest near layer 108 and is weakestnear layer 118. Color filter array 116 may be deposited on substrate118. Layer 118 may be formed from clear glass, clear plastic, or othertransparent material.

In the FIG. 16 example, the red pixel “R” and the blue pixel “B” are notreceiving signals on their respective electrodes 62, so the liquidcrystals 60′ in the portions of liquid crystal layer 60 that areassociated with the R and B pixels have not been rotated. The electrode62 that is associated with the green pixel “G” is, however, receiving asignal (in this example) and is therefore producing an electric field inan adjacent portion of layer 60. As a result, liquid crystals 60′ aboveelectrode 62 in the green pixel “G” are rotated.

When viewing the pixels of display 14 “on-axis” (i.e., along a directionthat is parallel to the surface normal n for substrate 118), backlight66 will generally not leak appreciably into adjacent pixels and thepixel colors will tend not to bleed into each other. When, however,viewer 76 views display 14 along an off-axis angle such as the angleassociated with direction 78 of FIG. 16, there is a risk that the viewerwill view part of the liquid crystal material associated with one pixelthrough the color filter of another pixel. If not well controlled, thiseffect can reduce display performance by reducing color accuracy.

With a display of the type show in FIG. 16, off-axis performance may beenhanced, because off-axis light rays that have the potential to causeinterference are blocked by black matrix material 124 that is formed onthe inner surface of color filter array 116. When viewer 76 viewsdisplay 14 along viewing axis 78, viewer 76 will observe black matrixstructures 124 blocking rotated liquid crystals 60′ associated withgreen pixel “G”. In other words, light 66 that has travelled throughrotated (i.e., “on”) liquid crystals 60′ toward red (“R”) color filterelement 116′ is blocked by black matrix material 124.

A viewer observing the center of the green pixel “on-axis” willtherefore correctly observe that the green pixel is emitting greenfiltered backlight 66 and has a green color. When viewer 76 viewsdisplay 14 along viewing axis 78, however, viewer 76 will only observeblack matrix 124. The red pixel “R” in FIG. 16 will therefore correctlyappear “off” (e.g., the red pixel's liquid crystals 60′ have not beenrotated, so the viewer should not be observing any red light through thered color filter element 116′).

The enhanced blocking for display 14 of color bleeding between adjacentpixels may be exploited to enhance color accuracy and/or to reduce thewidth of black matrix 124 and thereby improve display brightnessefficiency.

The example of FIG. 16 is merely illustrative. If desired, color filterarray 116 may be formed on thin-film transistor layer 108. If desired, acolor filter array 116 that is formed on thin-film transistor layer 108may include a black matrix 124 over an interior surface of at least aportion of color filter layer. If desired, a color filter layer 116and/or a black matrix 124 may be formed on both layer 108 and layer 118.In configurations in which a color filter layer 116 is formed on bothlayer 108 and layer 118, the thickness of each color filter layer may beequal, the thickness of the color filter layer on layer 118 may belarger than the thickness of the color filter layer on layer 108, or thethickness of the color filter layer on layer 118 may be smaller than thethickness of the color filter layer on layer 108.

As shown in FIGS. 17, 18, and 19, black matrix material 124 may be anorganic opaque polymer that is formed over at least a portion of colorfilter elements 116′. In the examples of FIGS. 17, 18, and 19, colorfilter elements 116′ are formed on a transparent substrate layer 119.Transparent substrate layer 119 may be formed from clear glass, plastic,or any other suitable transparent substrate. Transparent substrate layer119 may be, as examples, an outer display layer such as layer 118 or aninner display layer such as combined layers 96 and 108 of FIG. 16.

As shown in the example of FIG. 17, individual color filter elements116′ that have a lateral separation from each other may be formed onlayer 119. Layer 119 may have an inner surface 138 and an outer surface140. Inner surface 138 may, for example, be a surface of layer 119 thatis closer to a liquid crystal layer such as liquid crystal layer 60(see, e.g., FIG. 16) than outer surface 140. Black matrix material 124may be partially formed on color filter elements 116′ and partiallyformed on inner surface 138.

Regions such as regions 148 of black matrix material 124 may be formeddirectly on inner surface 138 of layer 119 without any interposed colorfilter elements. Regions 150 of black matrix material 124 may be formedon portions 144 of array 116 of color filter elements 116′ that areinterposed between black matrix 124 and inner surface 138 of layer 119.

Black matrix 124 may include openings such as openings 142. Color filterelements 116′ may be formed in openings 142 so that portions 146 ofcolor filter elements 116′ may pass light of a corresponding color.Color filter elements 116′ may be characterized by a first thickness 152on inner surface 138. Black matrix layer 124 may be characterized by asecond thickness 154 on inner surface 138 that is greater than thickness152. However, this is merely illustrative. If desired, thickness 154 maybe substantially the same as thickness 152 or may be smaller thanthickness 152.

A planarization layer such as layer 130 may be formed over some or allof opaque masking layer 124 and color filter elements 116′.Planarization layer 130 may be formed from a layer of silicon oxide,silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, an organic material such asacrylic, other transparent planarizing materials, or a combination oftwo or more of these materials. Layer 130 may be deposited by screenprinting, spin-on coating, spray coating, physical vapor deposition,chemical vapor deposition, or other suitable deposition techniques. Ifdesired, layer 130 may be polished to help planarize layer 130.

If desired, black matrix 124 may include protruding portions (indicatedby dashed lines 136) that extend beyond color filter elements 116′ toform extended barriers to light an off-axis viewing angles. Protrudingportions 136 may be rounded, may be triangular, may be rectangular, mayhave faceted edges, or may have any other suitable shape for blockingoff-axis light.

During manufacturing of device 10, a first set of color filter elements116′ (e.g., green color filter elements 116′) may be formed on layer 119by, for example, providing a coating of a first color photoresist (e.g.,a photoresist material that is configured to pass green light) on innersurface 138, providing a patterned ultraviolet (UV) light mask on thecolor photoresist material, etching the color photoresist material usingUV light, and removing the UV mask.

A subsequent set of color filter elements 116′ (e.g., red color filterelements 116′) may then be formed on layer 119 by, for example,providing a second coating of a color photoresist (e.g., a photoresistmaterial that is configured to pass red light) on inner surface 138 andremaining portions of the first color photoresist material, providing asecond patterned UV mask on the second color photoresist material,etching the second color photoresist material using UV light, andremoving the UV mask. Additional sets of color filter elements 116′(e.g., blue color filter elements, or other color filter elements) maythen be formed on substrate layer 119 by repeating the steps ofproviding a color photoresist, providing a UV mask, etching the colorphotoresist, and removing the UV mask.

Black matrix 124 may then be formed over portions 144 of color filterlayer 116 and on portions of inner surface 138 by providing a coating ofblack matrix material over color filter elements 116′ and on exposedportions of inner surface 138 of layer 119, providing a patterned UVmask on the coating of black matrix material 124, etching openings 142into black matrix material 124 and removing the UV mask.

Other steps may be involved in forming color filter elements 116′ andblack matrix 124 such as baking steps (e.g., soft baking and hardbaking), deposition steps (e.g., screen printing, spin-on coating, spraycoating, physical vapor deposition, and chemical vapor deposition) orother suitable steps. The steps described in connection with FIG. 17 aremerely illustrative.

The example of FIG. 17 in which color filter elements 116′ of colorfilter array 116 are spatially separated and black matrix material 124is formed in contact with inner surface 138 is merely illustrative. Asshown in the example of FIG. 18, individual color filter elements 116′may be formed on layer 119 so that each individual color filter element116′ partially overlaps a portion of an adjacent color filter element116′ of a different color. Black matrix material 124 may be formed overcolor filter elements 116′ so that a portion of black matrix material124 is formed over overlapping portions of color filter elements 116′.

In the example of FIG. 18, portion 144 of color filter array 116 that iscovered by black matrix 124 may include overlapping portions of colorfilter elements 116′ while portion 150 of black matrix 124 that isformed on color filter elements 116′ may include substantially all ofblack matrix 124 (i.e., black matrix 124 may be formed on color filterelements 116′ without touching inner surface 138 of layer 119).

As with the example of FIG. 17, in the example of FIG. 18, planarizationlayer 130 is formed over opaque masking layer 124 and color filterelements 116′.

During manufacturing of device 10, a first set of color filter elements116′ (e.g., red color filter elements 116′) may be formed on layer 119by, for example, providing a coating of a first color photoresist (e.g.,a photoresist material that is configured to pass red light) on innersurface 138, providing a patterned ultraviolet (UV) light mask on thecolor photoresist material, etching the color photoresist material usingUV light, and removing the UV mask.

A subsequent set of color filter elements 116′ (e.g., green color filterelements 116′) may then be formed on layer 119 by, for example,providing a second coating of a color photoresist (e.g., a photoresistmaterial that is configured to pass green light) on inner surface 138and remaining portions of the first color photoresist material,providing a second patterned UV mask on the second color photoresistmaterial, etching the second color photoresist material using UV lightso that a portion of the second color photoresist material remains on aportion of the first color photoresist material, and removing the UVmask.

Additional sets of color filter elements 116′ (e.g., blue color filterelements, or other color filter elements) may then be formed onsubstrate layer 119 by repeating the steps of providing a colorphotoresist, providing a UV mask, etching the color photoresist, andremoving the UV mask.

Black matrix 124 may then be formed over portions 144 of color filterlayer 116 by providing a coating of black matrix material 124 over colorfilter elements 116′, providing a patterned UV mask on the coating ofblack matrix material 124, etching openings 142 into black matrixmaterial 124, and removing the UV mask.

Other steps may be involved in forming color filter elements 116′ andblack matrix 124 such as baking steps (e.g., soft baking and hardbaking), deposition steps (e.g., screen printing, spin-on coating, spraycoating, physical vapor deposition, and chemical vapor deposition) orother suitable deposition steps. The steps described in connection withFIG. 18 are merely illustrative.

The example of FIG. 18 in which color filter elements 116′ of colorfilter array 116 are partially overlapping is merely illustrative. Asshown in FIG. 19, array 116 of color filter elements 116′ may form acontiguous array of color filter elements 116′ of different colorshaving adjoining edges 156. Black matrix 124 may be configured to coveradjoining edges 156. Color filter elements 116′ having adjoining edges156 may be interposed between substantially all of black matrix 124 andinner surface 138 of layer 119 (i.e., region 150 of black matrix 124 mayinclude substantially all of black matrix 124 so that black matrix 124is formed on color filter array 116 and without touching inner surface138 of layer 119).

The examples of FIGS. 17, 18, and 19 in which black matrix material 124is formed from an organic opaque polymer that is formed over at least aportion of color filter elements 116′ and covered by planarization layer130 are merely illustrative. If desired, planarization layer 130 may beinterposed between black matrix 124 and color filter elements 116′ asshown in FIGS. 20 and 21.

In configurations in which planarization layer 130 is interposed betweenblack matrix 124 and color filter elements 116′, black matrix 124 may beformed from thin patterned inorganic material such as a layer ofpatterned metal (e.g., chrome) or other inorganic material. A blackmatrix 124 that is formed from a thin patterned metal layer may have athickness T. Thickness T may be (as examples) between 1-25 microns, 1-10microns, less than 10 microns, less than 5 microns, less than 3 microns,less than 2 microns, or less than 1 micron.

As shown in FIG. 20, individual color filter elements 116′ that areformed on layer 119 may have a lateral separation from each other.Planarization layer 130 may be formed on color filter elements 116′ andon portions of inner surface 138 in gaps between color filter elements116′ (i.e., some of planarization layer 130 may be interposed betweencolor filter elements 116′ in array 116 of color filter elements). Blackmatrix material 124 may be formed on planarization layer 130 over gapsbetween color filter elements 116′. Openings 142 in black matrix 124 maybe aligned with color filter elements 116′ so that color filter elements116′ that are formed in openings 142 may pass light of a correspondingcolor.

If desired, some of color filter elements 116′ formed on layer 119 mayhave a portion that partially overlaps a portion of an adjacent colorfilter element 116′ of a different color. Planarization layer 130 may beformed over color filter elements 116′ so that raised overlappingportions of color filter array 116 may be covered by a planar layer.Black matrix material 124 may be formed on planarization layer overcolor filter elements 116′ so that a portion of black matrix material124 is formed on planarization layer 130 over overlapping portions ofcolor filter elements 116′.

During manufacturing of display 14, color filter elements 116′ of FIGS.20 and 21 may be formed using some or all of the illustrative stepsdescribed above in connection with FIGS. 17 and 18, respectively.Planarization layer 130 may then be deposited over color filter elements116′. Black matrix 124 may then be formed on planarization layer 130 byproviding a coating of black matrix material 124 on planarization layer130, providing a patterned UV mask on the coating of black matrixmaterial 124, etching openings 142 into black matrix material 124 andremoving the UV mask.

The examples of FIGS. 20 and 21 in which planarization layer 130 isinterposed between color filter array 116 and a patterned metal blackmatrix 124 is merely illustrative. As shown in FIG. 21, a patternedmetal black matrix 124 may be formed directly on color filter elements116′ so that patterned metal black matrix 124 covers adjoining edges 156of adjacent color filter elements 116′ and color filter elements 116′are interposed between substantially all of black matrix 124 and innersurface 138 of layer 119.

During manufacturing of display 14, color filter elements 116′ of FIG.22 may be formed using some or all of the illustrative steps describedabove in connection with FIGS. 17 and/or 18. Black matrix 124 may thenbe formed on color filter elements 116′ by providing a coating of blackmatrix material 124 over color filter elements 116′, providing apatterned UV mask on the coating of black matrix material 124, etchingopenings 142 into black matrix material 124 and removing the UV mask.

Black matrix 124 and color filter layer 116 may be formed on outerdisplay layer 118 (see, e.g., FIG. 16) in any of the configurationsdescribed above in connection with FIG. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, or 22, or inany combination of those configurations.

As shown in FIG. 23, display 14 may be provided with multiple colorfilter layers. Color filter layers such as color filter layers 116-1 and116-2 may be formed on opposing sides of liquid crystal layer 60. Colorfilter layers 116-1 and 116-2 may, if desired, each be provided withblack matrix material 124.

Black matrices 124-1 and 124-2 may be formed on color filter layers116-1 and 116-2 respectively in any of the configurations describedabove in connection with FIG. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, or 22, or in anycombination of those configurations.

In the example of FIG. 23, color filter layer 116-1 is formed ontransparent substrate layer 118 and color filter layer 116-2 is formedover layer 108 on transparent substrate layer 96. In this way, backlight66 may pass through both layers 116-1 and 116-2 as backlight 66 passesthrough display 14.

Viewer 76 may view display 14 through substrate 118 and color filterlayers 116-1 and 116-2 by viewing in a direction such as direction 78.(Polarizer layers, cover glass, backlight structures and other layershave been omitted from FIG. 23 for clarity). In configurations in whichcolor filter elements 116′ are formed on both the inner display layer(e.g., thin-film transistor layer 108 and transparent substrate layer96) and the outer display layer (e.g., transparent substrate layer 118),black matrix 124-1 may include openings 142 for color filter elements116′ of array 116-1 and black matrix 124-2 may have openings 142 forcolor filter elements 116′ of array 116-2.

In the example of FIG. 23, openings 142 in both black matrix 124-1 andblack matrix 124-2 are completely filled with color filter elements 116′of array 116-1 and 116-2 respectively. However, this is merelyillustrative. As shown in FIG. 24, if desired, openings 142 of blackmatrix 124-1 on array 116-1 may be completely filled with color filterelements 116′ of array 116-1 and black matrix openings 142 of blackmatrix 124-2 may be partially filled with color filter elements 116′ ofarray 116-2. Each color filter element 116′ of array 116-2 may have acentral opening within one of openings 142. As shown in FIG. 25, ifdesired, openings 142 of black matrix 124-1 on array 116-1 may bepartially filled with color filter elements 116′ of array 116-1 andblack matrix openings 142 of black matrix 124-2 may be completely filledwith color filter elements 116′ of array 116-2. Each color filterelement 116′ of array 116-1 may have a central opening within one ofopenings 142.

As shown in FIG. 26, display 14 may be provided with a single colorfilter array 116 on substrate 118 and a light collimating layer such ascollimator 160 on transparent substrate 96. Substrate 96 may haveopposing first and second surfaces 97 and 95. Thin-film transistor layer108 may be formed on first surface 97 of substrate 96. Light collimatinglayer 160 may be formed on opposing second surface 95 of substrate 96.In this way, display 14 may be configured to redirect backlight 66 thatis emitted in an off-axis direction such as one of directions 162 ontoan on-axis path so that light that passes through liquid crystal layer60 forms a collimated beam of light with minimal off-axis components.

Collimating layer 160 may be formed from, as examples, collimatingstructures such as Fresnel lens structures, microlens structures, orstructures containing an array of microprisms that generates multipleinternal reflections of light that is received from off-axis directionsand re-transmits that light after an internal reflection into an on-axisdirection.

The arrangement of FIG. 26 is merely illustrative. In configurations inwhich display 14 is provided with a collimating layer such ascollimating layer 160 on substrate 96, color filter array 116 may, ifdesired, be formed on thin-film transistor layer 108 as shown in FIG.27.

If desired, color filter elements 116′ of color filter arrays 116(including arrays 116-1 and 116-2 of FIGS. 23, 24, and 25) may each beformed from a common color filter material or, if desired, some of colorfilter elements 116′ may be formed from one or more different colorfilter materials. As an example, color filter array 116-2 on thin-filmtransistor layer 108 may include one or more color filter elements 116Cthat are formed from a different material than the material used to formcolor filter elements 116′ as shown in FIG. 28.

In the example of FIG. 28, color filter elements 116C may be formed froma multilayer dielectric stack that includes materials with differentindices of refraction configured to form an optical filter thatselectively reflects some colors of light while reflecting other colorsof light. Color filter elements 116C may, for example, be cholestericcolor filter elements formed from chiral nematic materials or otherwavelength-dependent reflective materials that are configured to reflectselected colors of light. As shown in FIG. 28 as an illustrativeexample, green “G′” color filter element 116C may reflect red light 66Rand blue light 66G and to pass green light 66G. Similarly, red “R′”color filter element 116C may be configured to reflect green light andblue light while passing red light and blue “B′” color filter element116C may be configured to reflect green light and red light whilepassing blue light.

As shown in FIG. 29, a color filter layer such as color filter array116-1 on substrate 118 may be formed free of black matrix material. Inconfigurations in which color filter array 116-1 on substrate 118 isformed free from black matrix material, at least some of interconnectlines 126 may be embedded within black matrix 124-3 that is part of acolor filter layer such as color filter array 116-2 on thin-filmtransistor layer 108. Black matrix 124-3 may include openings 142 forthe color filter elements 116′ of array 116-2. If desired, black matrix124-3 may have an inner surface that is coplanar with color filterelements 116′ of array 116-2 (as indicated by dashed lines 170) or blackmatrix 124-2 may have an inner surface that is formed in a differentplane from color filter elements 116′ of array 116-2.

Black matrices 124 and color filter layers 116 of FIGS. 24, 25, 26, 27,28 and 29 may be formed having any of the configurations described abovein connection with FIG. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, or 22, or in any combinationof those configurations.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this inventionand various modifications can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display, comprising: a transparent substratelayer; a color filter layer comprising a first color filter elementformed on the transparent substrate layer and a second color filterelement formed on the transparent substrate layer, wherein a portion ofthe first color filter element is interposed between a portion of thesecond color filter element and the transparent substrate layer, thecolor filter layer further comprising a third color filter elementformed on the transparent substrate layer, wherein an additional portionof the second color filter element that does not overlap the first colorfilter element is interposed between a portion of the third color filterelement and the transparent substrate layer, and wherein the first colorfilter element and the third color filter element do not overlap; and alight-blocking material that directly contacts the first and secondcolor filter elements and that overlaps the portion of the first colorfilter element and the portion of the second color filter element. 2.The display defined in claim 1, wherein the first color filter elementand the second color filter element each contact the transparentsubstrate layer.
 3. The display defined in claim 1, wherein the firstcolor filter element and the second color filter element separate thelight-blocking material from the transparent substrate layer.
 4. Thedisplay defined in claim 1, wherein the first color filter elementtransmits light of a first color and wherein the second color filterelement transmits light of a second color that is different than thefirst color.
 5. A display, comprising: a transparent display substrate;a color filter layer having adjacent first and second color filterelements formed on the transparent display substrate, wherein a portionof the first color filter element overlaps the second color filterelement; and opaque masking material formed over the portion of thefirst color filter element that overlaps the second color filterelement, wherein the opaque masking material directly contacts the firstand second color filter elements.
 6. The display defined in claim 5,wherein the first and second color filter elements separate the opaquemasking material from the transparent display substrate.
 7. The displaydefined in claim 5, further comprising a planarization layer formed overthe first and second color filter elements and the opaque maskingmaterial.
 8. The display defined in claim 7, wherein the opaque maskingmaterial comprises protrusions that extend into the planarization layer.9. The display defined in claim 8, wherein the protrusions are selectedfrom the group consisting of: rounded protrusions, triangularprotrusions, and protrusions with faceted edges.
 10. A display,comprising: a first transparent substrate having an inner surface and anouter surface; a second transparent substrate; a layer of liquid crystalmaterial formed between the first transparent substrate and the secondtransparent substrate; a color filter layer formed on the inner surfaceof the first transparent substrate, the color filter layer including aplurality of partially overlapping color filter elements; a black matrixformed over the plurality of partially overlapping color filterelements; and a planarization layer formed over the black matrix and thecolor filter layer.
 11. The display defined in claim 10, wherein theinner surface is interposed between the outer surface and the layer ofliquid crystal material.
 12. The display defined in claim 10 furthercomprising: an array of thin-film transistors formed on the secondtransparent substrate.
 13. The display defined in claim 10, wherein theplurality of partially overlapping color filter elements includes atleast a first color filter element having an edge that is interposedbetween an adjacent second color filter element and the inner surface ofthe first transparent substrate.
 14. The display defined in claim 13,wherein the second color filter element is interposed between the edgeof the first color filter element and the black matrix.
 15. The displaydefined in claim 10, wherein the black matrix includes openings, andwherein the planarization layer is formed directly on the color filterlayer in the openings.